Fence-post.



(No Model.)

Patented Sept. 4, I900.

J. L. WIGGINS.

F E N C E P 0 S T.

(Application filed Mar. 28, 1899.

' Stratum;

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcs.

JOHN L. IVIGGINS, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,145, datedSeptember 4, 1900. Application filed March 28, 1899. Serial No. 710,801.(No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN L. WIGGINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Duluth, in'the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements infence-posts of that class which are constructed with slots or means forreceiving the line or longitudinal wires of the fence.

The objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear,andthe novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the appendedclaim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisspecification, and in which Figure l is a view in elevation of myimproved fence-post. Fig. 2 is a view at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3represents a variety of forms of slot in the upper portion of the post.Fig. at is an enlarged detail in perspective showing one form of slot.Fig. 5 is a similar view of still another form of slot.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates thelower or ground portion of the post. It is formed with the ribs or uponopposite sides, and projecting upon opposite sides at right angles tosaid ribs are the flanges or wings A, which are made skeleton or withopenings a, as seen clearly in Fig. 2, and through these openings theearth is forced as the lower section is driven into the ground, and thisearth packs in these openings and serves most effectually to keep thepost solid in the soil. It will be observed that there are two of thesewings upon each side of the post, one as near the point as possible andthe other just below the upper surface of the soil. The upper surface ofthe upper wings is practically square, while that of the lower wings ismore or less inclined or curved, as shown, and the sides of the wingsare inclined or curved, so as to facilitate the driving of the post intothe ground, but offering the greatest resistance to its Withdrawal.

B is the upper portionor section of the post. It is formed of malleableiron and is provided with the ribs 6, as shown, thus giving in malleableiron the greatest strength and rigid ity possible with minimum weight.The up per section is pivotally attached to the lower section, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2. The lower section has the series of holes a arrangedin the arc of a circle, as shown, and into any one of these is designedto be engaged the removable pin or bolt D, carried by the lower end ofthe upper section of the post, the bolt being provided with suitablenut, as shown. C is a similar bolt on the extreme lower end of the uppersection and engaging a hole in the upper end of the ground portion ofthe post, so that the two sections may be held in the desired relationto each other. It will thus be seen how the upper section may be turnedin any desired direction by simply removing the upper bolt. In Fig. l indotted lines I have shown the upper section turned at an angle from theperpendicular.

The upper section is provided with slots for the reception and retentionof the longitudinal wires of the fence. These slots, as shown, may be ofvarious forms and still all possess the one essentialcharacteristic-that is, being capable of receiving the wires and thenclosed, so as to retain the same by hammering the metal into position toprevent egress of the wires. In Fig. 3 I have shown at the top the slotE so disposed as to be perpendicular to both the edge and the side ofthe post. I

The slot F is disposed in a plane perpendicular to the edge of the post,but at an acute angle to the side of the post. The slot G is similar tothe slot F, but the angle to the side of the post is more acute. Theslot 11 isdisposed in a plane at an acute angle to both the side andedge of the post. The slot I (shown in Fig. 4) extends at an angle ofabout forty five degrees from the perpendicular through the post and isalso in a plane at an angle to the side and edge of the post. The slot Jof Fig. 5 is similar to the slot I in Fig. 4, except it is at rightangles to the side of the post in stead of at an acute angle, as is theslot I. In all these forms the slot leads to an enlarged opening K, intowhich the longitudinal wires of the fence are received after beingentered in the slots., In Figs. 4 and 5 the metal is shown as turnedalittle to one side of the per pendicular through the post. trate butsome of the variations of form of slot that may be employed. In allforms the tongue L is designed to be hammered down to close the entranceto the slot after the Wire has been entered therein.

What is claimed as new is- The fence-post herein described consisting ofa lower portion and an upper portion, the latter having ribs uponopposite sides and slots extending at an angle of about forty-fivedegrees to the perpendicular through the post These ill usandcommunicating with enlarged openings at the center of the portion inwhich they are formed, the tongues thus formed being bent to one side ofthe perpendicular through the post and extended beyond the edge, withthe entrance to the slot and its opposite walls at an acute angle to theedge of the post, the said upper section being formed of malleable iron,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. WIGGINS; Witnesses:

MARCUS W. BATES, MARcUs F. BATES.

